For the experienced walker Tibet offers plenty of enticing trekking routes. However, you need to be fit, acclimatized, totally self-reliant and prepared to do some research before you go. Once you start trekking you get off the beaten track extremely quickly and there is no infrastructure to support trekkers and no rescue service. Spring (April-June) and autumn (September-November) are the best months to trek. Cold-weather problems such as hypothermia and frostbite should be taken seriously even in these months and whilst trekking is possible at any time in the valleys, high altitudes become virtually impossible in the winter and anyone contemplating trekking at this time should be sure to get local information about the terrain and likely conditions. During the wettest months (June-September), rivers are in flood and crossing can be difficult, even impossible.

The popular Ganden to Samye trek has the advantage of both start and finish points being relatively accessible to Lhasa and it takes only three to four days. Also worth considering are treks to the cave hermitage of Drak Yerpa from Lhasa (allow a full day and be prepared to camp), and the five-day trek from Tingri to Everest Base camp via Rongbuk. The more challenging options include the sixteen-day mammoth trek to the Kangshung face of Everest, exploring the valleys east of the mountain, the 24-day circumnavigation of Namtso Lake, including the arduous exploration of the Shang Valley to the southwest, or the great thirty-day circuit (a Tibetan guide is highly recommended) from Lhatse to Lake Dangra up on the Chang Tang plateau.

Whatever you do, you must have adequate information on the route before setting off. There are two essential books: Tibet Handbook: a Pilgrimage Guide by Victor Chan (Moon) and Trekking in Tibet by Gary McCue (Cordee) which is especially good for shorter day treks that anyone can do without all the gear.